MplayerLinux
vs
VLC media playerWindows
Mplayer as a Linux alternative to VLC media player
Updated
Our verdict
MPlayer can replace VLC for users who are comfortable with a command‑line interface and want low‑resource playback. It handles the same container and codec range, so basic watching of MP4, MKV, AVI, MP3, AAC, FLAC, etc., works fine. However, it lacks the polished GUI, integrated library, and easy drag‑and‑drop playlist management that most VLC users expect. If you need quick, out‑of‑the‑box playback with minimal tweaking, VLC remains simpler. Power users who prefer scripting, custom filters, or tight control over playback will find MPlayer a solid alternative.
- License
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.5
- Rating
- 5/5 (1)
What works the same
- Supports virtually all common video containers (MP4, MKV, AVI)
- Decodes popular audio codecs (MP3, AAC, FLAC)
- Can stream network sources (HTTP, RTSP, YouTube)
- Handles subtitles in multiple languages
What is different
- MPlayer is command‑line only; VLC provides a full GUI
- VLC includes built‑in library and playlist UI; MPlayer relies on external tools
- Hardware acceleration support is more straightforward in VLC
- VLC offers easy drag‑and‑drop and on‑the‑fly codec installation; MPlayer requires manual configuration for some codecs
Opening your VLC media player files
MPlayer can open any media file that VLC can play, because both rely on the same underlying codec libraries. Neither program creates proprietary project files, so there is no export format to convert; you simply open the same source files with MPlayer.
Switching from VLC media player to Mplayer, step by step
- Install MPlayer from your distro's repository (e.g., sudo apt install mplayer).
- Test playback of your typical files: mplayer filename.mp4.
- If subtitles are needed, add the –sub option or configure default subtitle handling.
- Create simple shell scripts or aliases for common playlists if you miss a GUI.
- Optional: install a front‑end like SMPlayer for a graphical wrapper around MPlayer.
Key features of Mplayer
- Extensive codec support
- Command‑line control
- Low resource usage
- Customizable key bindings
- Video and audio filters
- Subtitle handling
- DVD, Blu‑ray, and streaming support
How to install Mplayer on Linux
sudo apt install mplayersudo apt install mplayersudo pacman -S mencoderFrequently asked questions
Can MPlayer play DRM‑protected streams?
No, MPlayer does not support DRM; VLC can handle some DRM streams via built‑in modules.
Is there a way to get a GUI for MPlayer?
Yes, front‑ends such as SMPlayer or GNOME‑MPlayer provide a graphical interface while using MPlayer as the backend.
Will MPlayer use my GPU for hardware acceleration?
MPlayer can use hardware decoding, but it often requires manual enabling of the appropriate video output driver (e.g., vdpau, vaapi).
3 other alternatives to VLC media player
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